Major downtown redevelopment planned after court-approved sale
An Edmonton-based real estate firm has acquired the bulk of the downtown City Centre complex in a receivership sale and unveiled plans to convert a large portion of the property into housing and mixed-use space. The company says work will start in earnest next year, a move that could reshape a core part of the city.
Westrich Pacific confirmed the transaction will close before year-end and described the purchase as a pivotal moment in the ongoing transformation of downtown Edmonton. The company intends to redevelop about 1.4 million square feet — including the former Hudson’s Bay footprint — into a mix of residential, retail and entertainment uses.
The initial phase of the scheme targets roughly 1,500 new residential units on the Hudson’s Bay portion of the site, with “major construction” expected to begin in early 2027, according to the developer. The broader complex includes Edmonton City Centre West and East, Centre Point Place, TD Tower, 102A Tower and several parkades.
“This investment is a strong signal that the transformation underway in downtown Edmonton is real,”
Mayor Andrew Knack said the deal sends a message to other investors that momentum is building in the downtown core. The mayor emphasised that visible investment often attracts further development, a point municipal leaders have pressed repeatedly as they seek to reverse decades of retail decline and office vacancy.
David Sanche, co-CEO of Westrich Pacific, described the transaction as one of the most significant projects of the company’s career and said the firm sees the property’s evolution as an opportunity to support downtown revitalization. He framed the plan as a long-term commitment to the city and indicated Westrich will work with City Council and other stakeholders to implement the proposal.
- Planned uses: residential, retail, entertainment and wellness (including a rooftop spa concept mentioned by the developer).
- Scale: approximately 1,500 residential units in the first phase; total site roughly 1.4 million sq. ft.
- Timeline: transaction to close before year-end; major construction slated to start early next year.
The acquisition comes after the mall complex had been in receivership, an outcome that underscored the struggles many large suburban and urban shopping centres have faced in recent years. Westrich Pacific’s plan to introduce dense housing and complementary amenities follows a growing Canadian trend of repurposing underused retail parcels to meet housing demand and reactivate central neighbourhoods.
| Component | Role in redevelopment |
|---|---|
| Former Hudson’s Bay | Site for about 1,500 residential units in first phase |
| City Centre East & West | Part of mixed-use conversion, retail and office integration |
| TD Tower / 102A Tower / Centre Point Place | Existing office and tower elements implicated in broader site planning |
For Edmonton, the proposal presents potential upside and challenges. Adding a substantial number of homes downtown could increase foot traffic for remaining retailers, raise demand for services and support public transit ridership. It may also help address shortage pressures in the city’s housing market by introducing denser options in the urban core.
At the same time, the project will require coordination on infrastructure, parking, public realm improvements and approvals through municipal planning processes. City staff and councillors will be asked to balance the benefits of densification with questions about building form, community amenities, timelines and the impacts on nearby businesses and residents.
Westrich has expressed optimism about the site’s potential, mentioning plans for lifestyles and wellness features, including a rooftop spa concept. The company framed the scheme as a long-term investment in downtown’s economic health and attractiveness to residents and visitors.
As the deal advances toward closing, Edmonton residents and stakeholders can expect further detail through public consultations and planning submissions. The combination of a large-scale residential component and mixed-use programming makes the City Centre project one of the more consequential downtown proposals in recent memory — and a key test of the city’s ability to convert older retail assets into 21st-century, multi-purpose neighbourhoods.
